South Korea successfully launched its first rocket on Tuesday, but the satellite payload failed to reach its designated orbit, officials said. The rocket, a two-stage rocket, called the Naro lifted off on schedule at 5:00 pm local time, (0800 GMT). The first stage separated successfully less than five minutes after lift-off and the South Korean-built 100-kilogram (220-pound) scientific research satellite was placed into Earth orbit. But science and technology minister Ahn Byong-Man said it was not following the designated orbit, hampering communications with mission control. “All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit and reached an altitude of 360 kilometres (225 miles),” Ahn said.
A spokesperson from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute told Yonhap news agency they were trying to track the whereabouts of the satellite and declined to say if contact could be made later. Engineers from South Korea and Russia, who helped construct the rocket, are looking to find the exact cause of the failure. The science satellite was supposed to observe the atmosphere and ocean.
They said that despite the satellite’s failure to reach its proper orbit, the launch should be seen as a “half success” since the rocket functioned without any problem.
The launch, was watched closely by rival North Korea. Watch the video above for more on this launch, and the tensions between North and South Korea.
Source: Space Daily, AlJazeera
Good
South Korea has already built and launched 11 of its own satellites, albeit with the help of outside players in the space launch business. SK also maintains that its space program is being carried out with full transparency, as opposed to North Korea’s secretive agenda. Hopefully, the South Koreans independent launch vehicle will prove viable and competitive in the growing launch market .
Oh well – you win some, you lose some. Welcome to the space business! Shame for them though…
# Adarzh Says:
August 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
“Good”
Why would that be ‘good’? Unless of course you’re confusing the South Koreans with the North Koreans?
we are sentenced to progress for ever and we have to find out the right way even we lose any crew or shuttle : any adventure has risks but our challenge has to be taken up, that’s all !
Andrew
Anyone who would cheer SOUTH KOREA’S failure in their efforts at space exporation is just a narrow minded fool. Good luck to them on their next endeavor. The more countries willing to invest in space programs the better, as NASA’s budget appears to be suffering from a serious lack of funding.